Hi,
I'm trying to run ToTA (fully patched - 1.96 and 1.80c or whatever it was for DA, though patching doesn't make a difference as you'll read below) on my Laptop.
Specs are: XP Pro SP3
4 gb RAM, 3.2 ghz dual-core w/6mb cache etc.
The video card, a MobileIntel 965 Express, is integrated, but can run games such as the Sims 2 (forgive me for my taste in games), Corporate Machine, Poltical Machine, Civ 4, HL2, Medieval TotalWar2 and other (much) more graphically demanding games.
For that reason, I don't think the problem stems from my laptop being too slow, especially as I ran DA on an older laptop with half the specs and an older MobileIntel (it was even the same series of laptop). Furthermore, I don't think its the game files (its a digital download), as I can run the game fine on my desktop PC.
However, when I try to run GalCiv2 with a clean DA install, pached DA, ToTA, and/or patched ToTA (i.e. whatever patching, it doesn't matter), I get this weird interface overlap residue (when I close a menu it 'stays' behind on the interface, and visa-versa), or they otherwise just appear black, without the usual interface textures.
I refer to all menus, whether they be diplomacy, economic, ship design, and so forth, and the main interface, from which you can read the various graphs displaying research, economic performance etc, as the 'interface'. This makes the game impossible to play as it obscures all the vital menus (and anything other than the main galaxy view).
If it makes a difference my resolution is 1200x800, 60Hz (though it works just fine on my desktop with the same settings). I have tried running it at 1024x768 at various frequencies just for kicks. I've also tried fiddling with the in-game graphics options to no avail.
I am physiologically dependant on GalCiv and will be spending 2 years with this laptop as my only computer, so I'm open any workarounds, suggestions and ideas, (save for buying a new laptop). Please help me play this great game! If I can't get GalCiv to work, I'll be stuck with the Sims (gasp)
Screenshots below:


If the images don't show up:
http://www.4freeimagehost.com/show.php?i=c9867fccbbeb.jpg
http://www.4freeimagehost.com/show.php?i=6250a4a18d70.jpg
Edit: All my drivers, and even my bios, are fully updated, as of like 10 minutes ago. I also have nothing installed except for XP, Open Office, Firefox, and the games I previously mentioned. Everything in my systray is either for Windows or for the various laptop specific drivers.